Implementing Sustainability Management in Practice

The increasing demands on companies in the course of the transformation towards greater sustainability raise numerous questions: Which regulatory requirements such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Voluntary SME Sustainability Reporting Standard (VSME), the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), or the EU Taxonomy apply to my company? How can these be implemented efficiently and in compliance with the law? Which frameworks and standards are relevant, and how can I integrate sustainability strategically into my business processes?

We help you to master these challenges. With our experience and expertise, we work with you to develop solutions that are scientifically sound and at the same time practice-oriented: perfectly tailored to the needs of your company.

The type of support we provide ranges from moderating and structuring the topic of sustainability, to developing and supplying content, e.g., drafting the sustainability report, preparing climate balances or templates, all the way to conducting workshops and training sessions for knowledge transfer, so that you are able to carry out the tasks independently.

Our Services Include:

Sustainability Reports and Certifications as Keys to Success

Sustainability reports and certifications are important instruments to make your company’s sustainability performance visible and to build trust among customers, partners, and investors. Whether it is statutory reporting obligations such as the CSRD or voluntary standards such as the VSME, we support you in implementing the appropriate measures for your company.

We assist you in the preparation of sustainability reports as well as in the preparation and implementation of certifications. These include, among others:

Standard for Sustainable Business (ZNU): A practice-oriented approach to promoting sustainable corporate management.
EcoVadis: A globally recognized rating that evaluates and makes your company’s sustainability performance transparent.
ISO 9001 (Quality Management): For the optimization of your processes and ensuring the highest quality standards.
ISO 14001 (Environmental Management): For the systematic improvement of your environmental performance.
ISO 50001 (Energy Management): For efficient use of energy and the reduction of costs and emissions.
ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety): For the protection of your employees and the promotion of a safe working environment.
Safety Culture Ladder (SCL): For the promotion of a positive safety culture in your company.

Our approach is tailored individually to the needs of your company. We accompany you from the analysis of your initial situation, through the development of appropriate measures, all the way to successful implementation. In doing so, we ensure that your sustainability reports and certifications not only meet the requirements but also create real added value for your company: be it through an improved EcoVadis rating, the fulfilment of customer requirements, or the strengthening of your market position.

Conducting a Materiality Analysis

A double materiality analysis is an instrument for identifying the sustainability topics relevant to your company. We recommend conducting it in accordance with the ESRS and are happy to support you at every step. In the process, both the company’s impacts on the environment and society as well as the financial risks and opportunities of the sustainability topics for the company are assessed. The topics identified in this way form the basis for the data points and key figures to be reported.

Support in Collecting Sustainability-Related Key Figures

Sustainability-related data points and key figures are the prerequisite for making sustainability performance measurable and verifiable. They form the basis for identifying potentials, defining goals, assessing progress, and making decisions regarding measures. We support you in the systematic collection of the required data in order to both meet regulatory requirements such as those under ESRS or VSME, and to create real added value for your company.

Support with Climate Accounting

Climate accounting – also known as the carbon footprint – is a crucial step in reducing the environmental impacts of your company. It involves the systematic recording of all relevant greenhouse gas emissions caused by your business activities. We help you to understand the fundamentals of accounting, to quantify emissions in Scope 1 & 2 according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, to assess them, and to develop reduction strategies.

Meeting the Requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

The EUDR requires companies to ensure that products they place on the EU market are not associated with deforestation or forest degradation. This necessitates seamless traceability along the supply chain as well as compliance with due diligence obligations. We support you in meeting the requirements of the EUDR—from analyzing your supply chains and identifying potential risks to implementing suitable control mechanisms. We help you adapt your processes and ensure compliance.

Meeting the Requirements of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

The CSDDD presents companies with new requirements in the area of supplier management. Building on the provisions of the LkSG, the CSDDD expands due diligence obligations. We support you in optimally preparing your supplier management for the requirements of the CSDDD. As part of a GAP analysis, we examine which requirements of the LkSG your company already fulfills and which measures are still necessary to meet the new standards of the CSDDD. Together, we develop practical solutions to adapt your processes, minimize risks, and ensure compliance.

Meeting the Requirements of the EU Taxonomy

The EU Taxonomy is a classification system that defines which activities can be considered environmentally sustainable. It serves as a guideline for companies and investors to identify and promote environmentally sustainable investments. We support your company in understanding and implementing the complex requirements of the EU Taxonomy. Through our consultancy, we ensure that your business activities meet the criteria for sustainability, thereby giving you access to green financing and investments.

(Further) Development of a Sustainability Strategy

In many companies, there are already numerous sustainability-related activities and initiatives. However, the challenge often lies in bringing these individual approaches together into a coherent overall concept and developing a clear sustainability strategy from them. Such a strategy provides guidance, sets clear priorities, and makes it possible to implement sustainable measures in a targeted and effective way. We are happy to support you in successfully shaping this process.

Introduction of a Whistleblower Protection System

The Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) requires companies to establish secure channels for reporting misconduct in order to protect individuals who, in the course of their professional activities, obtain and report information about violations. A professionally implemented whistleblower system not only creates a trustworthy and legally compliant environment for whistleblowers but also helps your company to identify risks at an early stage, clarify violations internally, and avoid potential damages. We are happy to support you in implementing such a system: from setting up reporting channels, to receiving and processing reports, through to communication and documentation of cases.

Establishment, Maintenance, and Audit of a Legal Register

A legal register is an instrument for ensuring compliance with legal requirements within the company. It makes it possible to systematically record, monitor, and regularly update all relevant laws, regulations, and provisions. In doing so, you not only create transparency and minimize legal risks, but also strengthen legal certainty and the efficiency of your internal processes. A well-maintained legal register helps you reduce liability risks and focus on your core business. We support you in setting up a customized legal register, in its ongoing maintenance and updating, as well as in regular audits to ensure that your company always operates in compliance with the law.

Regular Implementation of Training Series

The multitude of reporting obligations and regulations presents major challenges for companies. To keep an overview and ensure compliance with these requirements, qualified coordinators are needed who not only manage the reporting obligations but also drive sustainability initiatives within the company. In our 7-day training series, our Certified Sustainability Reporting Specialists provide you with the essential foundational knowledge to successfully master these tasks. The training is accredited by the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and recognized as an official IHK certificate course.

The training series regularly takes place with participants from various companies. Upon request, we also offer in-house training sessions that are individually tailored to the needs of your company. Further information can be found in our flyer.

Conducting One-Day Workshops

Are you interested in a specific topic? At regular intervals, we offer practice-oriented one-day workshops on relevant topics such as climate accounting, materiality analysis, EcoVadis, compliance management, and much more. Our workshops are designed to be interactive and combine expert presentations, practical exercises, and real case studies. In just 8 hours, you will gain fundamental knowledge and concrete recommendations for action that you can apply directly in your company. Further information and the option to express non-binding interest can be found in our flyer.

Our training sessions can also be conducted as in-house workshops. If you have individual requirements, our experts are at your disposal to develop tailor-made concepts perfectly suited to your company. Feel free to contact us to discuss further details.

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